Cigar machine wrapper transfer mechanism



Aug. 11, 1942. (:ARLSON 2,292,361

' 0mm MACHINE WRAPPER TRANSFER macumzsu Filed Aug. 16, 1939 vINVEN 'I'ORHJALMAR E.CARLSON ATTORN Patented Aug. 11, 1942 CIGAR MACHINE WRAPPERTRANSFER MECHANISM Hjalmar E. Carlson, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor toInternational Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New JerseyApplication August 16, 1939, Serial No. 290,422

7 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar machines and more particularly toimprovements in wrapper transfer mechanism for use on cigar machines.

It is an object of this invention to provide novel wrapper transfermechanism which is simpl in construction, easily adjustable and of atype especially adapted for use in conjunction with cigar wrappingmechanism in which the cigar wrapper carrier head is adapted to travelalong a continuous and closed path during the operation of the machine.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved nozzlemechanism cooperating with the wrapper carrier head for blowing off theflag portion of the wrapper leaf from the wrapper carrier at theconclusion of the wrapping operation.

In automatic machines, it may be necessary to run a machine backwards inorder to make suitable adjustments and for that purpose my inventionalso consists in the provision of an improved nozzle mechanism soconstructed and arranged that the machine can be run backwards and thewrapper carrier head moved relative to the nozzle without breaking anyparts of the machine.

It is an additional object of my invention to provide improved nozzlemechanism of the type in which the nozzle is mounted for movementindependent of the Wrapper carrier head in order to allow it to be movedout of the path of the head whenever the machine is turned overbackwards in order to prevent breakage of the parts of the nozzle andits associated operative parts.

The invention is also characterized by the provision of means forming apart of the nozzle which allows it to be adjusted readily in order toadapt it for use in producing cigars of all shapes and lengths.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain combinations and constructions which willbe hereinafter fully described, and then specifically set forth in theclaims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification,and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or likeparts:

Figure 1 is a partialside elevation partly in section of theimprovedwrapper transfer;

Figure 2 is an end view of the same taken from line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an .end elevation showing a compressed air device forblowing off'the flag end of the wrapper; a

Figure 4 is a plan view of the blow-off device; and

Figure 5 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the yieldablemounting of the nozzle.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the improved wrapper transfer mechanism ismounted on a hollow column (not shown) which may be of the same generaltype as that shown in co-pending application Serial No. 208,972, filedMay 20, 1938 by H. H. Wheeler for Wrapper carrier operating mechanism,now United States Patent No. 2,235,857, attached to the base plate of acigar rolling machine (not shown), and connected to its suction systemin the customary manner. The column has a horizontal arm Ill terminatingin a bearing ll in which is J'ournaled a hollow shaft I2 closed at itsends by removable plugs I3 and [4.

A gear [5 fixed on the hollow shaft I2 is driven in the same manner asdisclosed in said patent above referred to, and therefore, in theinterest of brevity, a more detailed showing and description of the sameis omitted. To the lower end of shaft I2 is clamped a hollow arm Itwhich is provided with a bearing l1 pivotally supporting a hollow arm [8joined to arm it by a bolt 19. The free end of arm l8 forms a bearingfor a holder 20 secured to a vertical shaft 2| turning in the bearingand carrying a suction wrapper carrier head 22. From the free end of arm[8 projects a lateral extension 23 which mounts cam follower 24. To theupper end of shaft 2!, which extends from the free end of arm 18, isfastened a cam piece 25 carrying a roller 26. The followers 24 and 26engage in cam tracks provided in the under side of a stationary cam 21attached to bearing l I, the follower 24 guiding the shaft 2| in apredetermined path and the follower 26 in each position on this pathswinging the carrier head 22 to the proper angle for applying thewrapper W to the particular cigar shape for which the cam 21 isdesigned. The carrier head 22 is adapted to travel through a closed patheach cycle of the machine from wrapper receiving to wrapper applyingstation and back to receiving position, all as disclosed in the abovereferred to Wheeler patent.

At proper points, the cam 27 has projecting studs carrying followers 28and 29 adapted to be engaged by the cam piece 25 in the manner describedin the above mentioned patent and thereby turning the shaft 2| andreversing the carrier head 22 after the same has delivered the wrapperand is returning to its receiving or pickup position. In the pick-upposition shown in Figure 1, the carrier head 22 rests over the lifterhead L of the die, the wrapper W being transferred from the latter tothe former in a manner known in the art by a shift of the suction at themoment of contact.

The carrier head 22 is divided by a partition 30 into a forward and arear chamber which communicate through an opening in the partition 39having a weighted trap door 3| swinging on a shaft 32. Shaft 32 projectsexternally from the carrier head, and on an arm 33 clamped thereto has acam follower 34, or other suitable valve operating device. The underside of carrier arm 35, by means of a bracket 35, carries a wedge shapedcam piece 3! projecting into the path of follower 34. The weight of trapdoor 3| is so chosen that the suction in the carrier is not suf--ficient to lift the same from a stop pin 38 but strong enough to hold itagainst the partition33 after being raised into closing position. Thusthe trap door 3| in this case is normally open thereby allowing thesuction to act over the entire face of the carrier head 22. At adefinite point in the path of travel of carrier head 22, when it isdesired to shift the suction from the forward holes 39 to the rear holes49 so as to augment that on the latter, the door 3| is raised byengagement of follower 34 with cam piece 31 and then is held closed bythe suction until the same is cut off from the carrier head 22 upon,delivery of the wrapper W.

When all but the flag end of the wrapper W has been taken off thecarrier head 22, as it is being wound around the cigar bunch at thewrapping station (not shown), a cover 4| movably mounted on the head 22and normally'held in closed position by a spring 42, is opened byengagement with anozzle 43 of an air blast system forming an active partof the machine. The nozzle 43 (Figure preferably is made in two parts inorder to provide means for readily adjusting it to cooperate with alldifferent shapes and lengths of wrapper carriers. This may beaccomplished by securing one end of a sleeve 58 in the butt end of thenozzle and having it, pro lect and support the adjustable outlet portionof nozzle 43. With the outlet Portion of the nozzle correctly placed inrespect to the duct 49 of carrier 22, it is retained in place bytightening a set screw 59. Any suitable air compressor may be used todeliver compressed air through pipes-44 (Figure 3) into a storagechamber 45 securedto the base plate of the machine. The chamber .45 hasa valve 46 operated by a leve 41 connected by a rod 48 to a cam (notshown). To the-discharge opening of valve 46 is connected the nozzle 43which fits over a duct 49 in the flag end of carrier head 22. The cam isso timed that the valve 46 is opened at the moment the duct 49 arrivesbelow the nozzle 43, the resulting puff of air blowing the wrapper endoff the carrier, thereby preventing any possible sticking, andpermitting perfect application of the flag portion about the head of thecigar. As the carrier then moves on in its closed and unidirectionalpath, nozzle 43 clears the cover 4| and the spring 42 returns the sameto its closed position.

The nozzle 43 is yieldably mounted so that as the machine is turned in areverse direction manually, for adjusting purposes, or any other reason,the nozzle will be moved by the carrier head 22 out of its path oftravel without breakage of any parts of the machine. According to theembodiment chosen for illustration, the nozzle 43 is provided with a hub.50 which is turnably mounted in an aperture 5! at the upper end of abracket 52 adjustably fastened to chamber 45. Since bracket 52 isadjustable, it provides means for vertically setting the nozzle inproper position to suit the level of the flag end of the carrier head22. An extending lug 53 of the nozzle 43 carries an adjustable stopscrew 54 which normally abuts a stud 55 in bracket 52, and a spring 56stretched between stud 55 and a stud 51 tends .to hold screw 54 againstits stop. With the nozzle positioned as shown in Figure 4, it is set toregister with the duct 49 at the proper time to blow off the flagportion of the wrapper.

When the machine is turned in a reverse direction manually, for reasonsheretofore mentioned, the cover 4|, which is then in a closed position,will bear against the end of nozzle 43 and .rnove it as indicated by dotand dash lines, out of the path of the carrier head, thus avoidingbreakage of any parts of the machine.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within thescope of the claims, for the particular device, selected to illustratethe invention, is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of thesame. It is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details ofthe structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigar machine, a wrapper carrier head provided with aduct-adjacent the flag end thereof, a device normally closing said duct,a source of compressed air, including a nozzle, means for producing arelative movement between said head and nozzle to bring the latter intodirect engagement with said device to move said device and open saidduct, whereby said nozzle is located in juxtaposition with said duct,means for directing compressed air through said nozzle and duct to forcethe flag end of a wrapper from said carrier head, and means for mountingsaid nozzle for swingingmovement in a direction opposite to thenormalpath .of travel of said head.

2. In a cigar machine,,a wrapper carrier head provided with a ductadjacent .the flag end thereof, a device normally closing said duct, asource of compressed air including a nozzle, means for producingrelative movement betweensaid head and nozzle to bring the latter intodirect engagement with said device to'move said device and open saidduct, wherebysaid nozzle is located in juxtaposition withsaid duct,means for directing compressed air throughsaid nozzle and duct to forcethe flag end of a wrapper from said carrier head, means for mountingsaid nozzle for swinging movement ina direction opposite to the normalpath of travel ;of;said head, and means tending :to maintain said nozzlenormally in a predetermined position.

3. In a cigar wrapper transfer mechanism having a movable wrappercarrier head provided with -a duct adjacent the 'fiag end thereof, .adevice for blowing the flag end of a wrapper'frorn said head including anozzle, a support mounting said nozzle in position for directingcompressed air through said duct, and means for adjusting said nozzle toand from said head, including a fixedpart of said nozzle and an axiallymovable part mounted telescopically thereon, and means for'securing saidmovable part in axially adjusted position on said fixed part.

4. In a cigar wrapper transfer mechanism having a movable wrap-percarrie head provided with a duct adjacent "the flag end thereof, adevice :-for forcing the flag end ofawrapper from said head comprising,a nozzle, anaxiallymovable member forming a part of said nozzle, andmeans for adjustably securing said member to another part of said nozzlewhereby said part of said nozzle and member are mutually adjustableooaxially for coaction with said head.

5. In a cigar wrapper transfer unit having a movable Wrapper carrierhead movable in a closed path to and from wrapper applying position andprovided with a duct adjacent the flag end thereof, a device fordirecting compressed air through said duct to force the flag end of awrapper from said carrier including, a movably mounted nozzle located inposition to direct compressed air into said duct, means for normallymaintaining said nozzle in position to cooperate with said duct, anaxially adjustable part mounted on the end of said nozzle, means forsecuring said part in adjusted position on said nozzle, and meansmounting said nozzle yieldingly to move out of the path of said headwhenever the latter travels in a reverse direction.

6. In a cigar machine wrapper transfer, having a wrapper carrier headmovable in a closed path to and from wrapper applying position, providedwith a duct adjacent the flag end of said head, a device for directingcompressed air through said duct to force the flag end of a wrapper fromsaid head, including a support positioned adjacent the path of travel ofsaid head, an air conducting member mounted on said support for movementin a substantially horizontal plane, and means for positioning saidmember in the path of travel of said head, said member being mountedyieldingly on its support to move and make way for said head wheneversaid head is translated in a reverse direction.

7. In a cigar machine wrapper transfer, having a wrapper carrier headmovable in a closed path to and from wrapper applying position, andprovided with a duct for directing fluid under pressure to force theflag end of a Wrapper from said head, mechanism for directing said fluidto said duct, comprising a source of supply of fluid, a hollow supportconnected to said source, a fluid conducting arm provided With a nozzleand means for mounting said nozzle on said arm and maintaining thenozzle normally in the path of movement of said head as it travels insaid closed HJALMAR CARLSON.

